About this Place
The Government Botanical Garden in Ooty is a sprawling 22-hectare (55-acre) garden located on the lower slopes of Doddabetta Peak. It is renowned for its terraced layout and houses around a thousand species of plants, including exotic and indigenous varieties of trees, shrubs, ferns, herbal, and bonsai plants.
The garden is divided into several sections, such as the Lower Garden, New Garden, Italian Garden, Conservatory, and Nurseries, each showcasing unique collections like a fern house with 127 species and a rose garden with hundreds of varieties. Key attractions include a 20-million-year-old fossilized tree trunk and the Toda mund (Toda hill).
The garden is meticulously maintained with lush green lawns, flower beds, and ponds with lilies, offering a picturesque setting for leisurely strolls and photography. It also plays a vital role in conservation, education, and eco-tourism, attracting approximately 2.4 million visitors annually. Established in 1848 by William Graham McIvor under the supervision of the Marquis of Tweeddale, its initial purpose was scientific and agricultural research, including the acclimatization of new plant species and supplying European residents with vegetables.
Designed in an Italian style, it was expanded over time, with sections like the Italian Garden laid out by Italian prisoners of war during World War I. It is currently maintained by the Tamil Nadu Horticulture Department and holds cultural significance with the presence of the Toda mund, an ancient settlement of the indigenous Toda tribe.
